Push the ⚔️Button⚔️, Max!

[@JillBearup]

Just Stab Me Now (39,597 copies sold, for those of you who are precise about these things 😁) can be purchased here: books2read.com/juststabmenow or wherever books are sold. Including Amazon, who give me more money than anyone else, I was surprised too. Come see me in Canterbury! www.waterstones.com/events/talk-by-fantasy-romance-author-jill-bearup/canterbury-rose-lane Chapter 2 of the audiobook will be live-streamed soon (maybe this week, who knows!) and I hope I'll have a release date for you soon. The fight at Captain Blood fight at 4:28 has a video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmPGZZyDZbJ_qsk Men in Tights video (referenced at 10:00) is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3mbfoGbo7F5fbc The Adventures of Robin Hood (seen at 10:56) is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6XQdJdtncyArsk Happy Monday!

[@trackeduser2577]

looking forward to he next audio-book stream. I want to know what happens next. someone should bring a blank CD so you can sign the preproduction copy of the audio-book. knowing my luck you'd use a ballpoint pen though...

[@alexfranz817]

@@JillBearup just to be annoyingly pedantic Precision is the correct number of zeros and accuracy is a specific number, but that's annoying science BS

[@Dori-Ma]

My copy finally arrived the other day and is now sitting at the top of the reading pile.

[@weswolever7477]

@@Dori-Ma Waste no time, pick it up now!!!

[@Dori-Ma]

@@weswolever7477I may or may not be reading a chapter or so a night before bed. ;)

[@artor9175]

My fencing improved a lot when I learned how to lunge. It was a big step forward.

[@davidbunner6708]

OWW!

[@danceswithmules]

I think I'm on the fence with that one...

[@slayer0235]

@@danceswithmules Yeah. Not sure I got the point.

[@LiorTamir]

My father sometimes says: we're on a cliff edge, and we're about to take a big step forward.

[@gregorywiederecht]

*rimshot*

[@EriktheRed2023]

Having analyzed it carefully and thought about it for quite some time... I think the point of the baron fight is the exposed, oily musculature.

[@JillBearup]

Seems legit 😂

[@Marveryn]

@@JillBearup yeah i am pretty sure the point of the fight was to show how muscular Mr Curtis is in the film. He make is eye candy for the ladies that decided to watch an action comedy.

[@red.aries1444]

I think the point is mostly that Blake Edwards wanted to throw everything he liked from adventure movies into this film. There are a lot of funny and good scenes that could stand alone, it's just to much for a whole cinema movie. This concept would have worked better if "The Great Race" would be a TV mini series as they were into fashion in the 80s.

[@EriktheRed2023]

@@red.aries1444 You're probably right. Though the movie seems a tad earlier than the 80s.

[@red.aries1444]

@@EriktheRed2023 The Great Race is from 1965, a lot of epic movies have been created at that time, but stretching a comedy film to such length isn't easy. The concept of a race around the world isn't so far off from Jules Vernes "Around the World in 80 Days", which has been filmed as a mini series in the 80s. It's good that we nowadays don't need to rewatch a whole film, if we just want to see certain scenes again.

[@ekij133]

4:12 They appear to be involved in some ... _four play_ 🥁🥁🔔

[@FenrirWolfganger]

I came here primarily for this comment 😊

[@Ranger12_]

This is amazing lol

[@nevillehoward8736]

Would an injudicious attack result in loss of four ski... I'll see myself out.

[@jackee-is-silent2938]

Drat! Took my line! :)

[@hittsrus5185]

I read the emojis and I'm not disappointed

[@Tbehartoo]

When my niece sits in the passenger seat, I always say "Push the button, Max!" When it's time to use the gate opener. She doesn't get it, but I find it hilarious every time

[@petrastedman669]

I used to say "turn!" in a French accent from another movie, but now I say, "rotate, Max!" I see you! [Fist bump of solidarity through the internet] 👊

[@ValeriePallaoro]

I always thought it came from Maxwell Smart, yelling at his dog to push the elevator button. But no. This is it.

[@leifroarmoldskred6370]

You know, 'Spaceballs' has a sword-figth in it. Well, Schwartz-fight, really, but close enough for government work.

[@Muljinn]

I hate it when my Schwartz gets all twisted…

[@Cutiemuffinz]

Especially with president skroob in charge! 😂

[@davidioanhedges]

Jill just happens to have two swords as hair grips .... and why does this surprise absolutely nobody ...

[@ericpode6095]

Back-up weapons....

[@DawnDavidson]

@@ericpode6095Hair and hat pins are classic backup weapons. Similar to bodice daggers. Important self defense strategies, even now!

[@allenlovell1604]

Classic weapons of the female ninja 🥷 assassin's! They look harmless enough; they're fast as lightning and deadlier than a black widow spider 🕷!.

[@AM-lh7rw]

😂

[@SugarSpice07]

I want them

[@jeriendhal]

Notably, Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood didn’t get along during the film, so I suspect their swordfight was less Flirty and more Let's Get this Scene Over With

[@Vinemaple]

It's weird to see Tony Curtis so completely turned off by a woman... he doesn't seem to want to be in the same tent with her... which makes it all the funnier when later, it's trivially easy for the Baron to coax the Great Leslie into his bedroom to "tuck him in." You see, I think the writers at the core of this film, and the director, knew exactly what they were doing, and all the Busby Berkeley showpieces and spectacles and really bad special-effects moments were forced onto them by the suits... When the dialogue is allowed to be funny, it's very funny, but that's not allowed all that often. One gets glimpses of a tighter, archer, naughtier film that died for the sake of what the suits think the general public wants. Or not. It's a 1965 film, I could probably actually research it, instead of just spitballing. There's probably tons of oral history. Heh.

[@stephenlitten1789]

@@Vinemaple I think it was in part a reply to "Those Magnificent Me in their Flying Machines..." and that was about 2hr 15min long So of course it had to be longer

[@bricelory9534]

Swordfights are to early cinema as sky beams and CGI armies are to MCU films - you just gotta have em at the end, even if they don't make sense.

[@FenrirWolfganger]

@@bricelory9534 That is a very good point.

[@Vinemaple]

At the END?!? Oh, no, this is like halfway through the movie! It's looooong...

[@erin2535]

Based 😂😂😂

[@richardleatherman5075]

I missed "goeth thusly" ! Thanks for making me smile

[@weswolever7477]

I’m going to add this to my vocabulary

[@erin2535]

Me too me too!

[@dvunck1]

At the time this film was made, the fleche attack was totally legal in saber fencing. It was only banned from saber in the 1990s

[@dennisdose5697]

Thank you. I fenced in the 80s and remembered it as legal. Do you know why the rule was changed?

[@dvunck1]

@@dennisdose5697 As saber scoring transitioned from manual side judges to using the electrical scoring box, like foil and epee had done decades earlier, the fleche became more and more prevalent. many bouts looked more like jousts or wild running matches. So the FIE decided to simply ban crossing your feet while moving forward as an attempt to slow and control the pace.

[@matthewosborne8384]

Caroline would love the tent fight. I can imagine her appearing mid scene. "Splendid! But instead when he goes for the...." She looks quickly at her fencing notes. "Two. Let your hot enemy fling the sword from your hand so that he can press you to the bed with his blade for a flirty, yet slightly mocking comment that calls back to something from earleir on......." #gotmyticket

[@JillBearup]

Yay! See you in a couple of weeks! 😊

[@matthewosborne8384]

@@JillBearup Do you think they will let me bring cheese into Waterstones? See you soon! 🙂

[@ernestvanophuizen461]

Ackshually... In 1965, when this film was released, the flèche was still a legal maneuver in sabre. It would appear The Great Leslie played by the rules after all. 🧐

[@dennisdose5697]

When I was fencing in the late 80s, it was still legal. Her comment caught me off guard also.

[@zigzagperson]

Cool

[@LiorTamir]

I'm HERE for your spelling of the word actually.

[@bradholden2971]

@@dennisdose5697 it changed in the 90s,

[@erin2535]

​@@LiorTamirI came here to say the same thing 😂

[@Poohze01]

In the Foil style that I learned, and then taught, the 'hop-advance' thing from c4:50 was called a balestra. It's meant to cover the same distance as a step, slightly faster, with the penalty of less control. One is usually hoping that it will surprise one's opponent. Ms. Wood makes the common error of kicking her front foot too high, instead of forward. But then, Mr. Curtis always fences with his bum in the air at an odd angle, so shrug-emoji?

[@kenbrown2808]

I was thinking that sticking your lead foot way up in the air was not a very effective tactic.

[@macalmy6750]

Thank you! It's been decades since I fenced (and I was never much good) and I was struggling to recall what the hop-advance was called.

[@KosherCookery]

Ballestras are weapon non-specific, you can do them in sabre and epée too.

[@39KHall]

Yes. I always liked the balestra, though its competitive utility is limited and situational. Done well, though, it's really flash, so it's a great thing to break out at fencing demonstrations. Back when I fenced in school I was limited to foil, being poor and left-handed (the university had one Italian foil I could use well). Really wanted to take up sabre but couldn't afford it then. Even if you didn't love it, Ms. Bearup, thanks for reviewing The Great Race. I understand every objection you raised to this movie, but I love it anyway. 🧀😁 Seeing it as a kid was a big reason I wanted to take up fencing (that and the Richard Lester/George MacDonald Fraser Musketeer films).

[@davidwright7193]

The choreographer obviously liked Balestras because Mr Curtis uses the move a lot in the second fight but in a less exaggerated way.

[@geneyounkin6789]

I feel the same about weird hobbys. Me: I make soap! Friend: To sell? Soap is neither expensive nor hard to find. Me: I know! I make soap because it makes me happy! Hooray for weird hobbys!

[@ScottLuvsRenFaires]

I would say the goals of a hobby are: 1. To have fun. 2. To learn stuff. 3. To obtain something that is of higher quality than can be obtained through mass market methods. Cost is usually not a consideration.

[@thomasbaker6563]

Good hobby to be in if your a mafia cleaner like Winston wolf

[@Kitty-CatDaddy]

Is it fund another hobby where the first two rules are you aren't supposed to talk about it?

[@dishevelleddev]

Wait. So "Pull the lever, Kronk" was a reference?

[@jeriendhal]

And "push the button, Frank" from Mst3k

[@stephanieturner6912]

I automatically think of ‘pull the lever Kronk!’ Which probably just showcases my age. 😅

[@chantellebehrens]

Ohhhhh my gosh I love a reference newly discovered.

[@lexpox329]

Despite being rather young I actually watched the great race before the new groove so I got this the first time I watched it. Didn't realize other kids my age would have missed this reference.

[@jaredloveless]

@@jeriendhal And subsequent, if dirivative, "Push the Button, Max" in the Netflix reboot.

[@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv]

I suspect that Natalie Wood had no fencing training. Whereas Tony Curtis and Ross Martin were likely both trained at Falcon Studios. And boy did I get a surprise when I checked my memory on that one till I added in fencing.

[@FenrirWolfganger]

1:00 I am old enough to remember when "the showing of the stockings" TM was the most powerful weapon in a woman's arsenal. I was not then old enough to understand why but it was one of the many incomprehensible rules of life. 9:01 "They're in Carpania, and they've become embroiled in politics" as one does. Enjoyable video Jill, and well done on nearly 40,000 copies so far.

[@classicslover]

Women have a many and varied and vast arsenal. We are only left to surrender to the right one.

[@mandisaw]

Showing a bit of stockinged leg is still surprisingly effective in the modern day 😅 Even as more overt stuff is available, the subtle sensualities are not unnoticed.

[@cmm5542]

I was in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Grand Duke' last year, in which at one point Ludvig is explaining how they've cleaned up their 'Grecian' dance for a presumably Victorian audience: 'it displays a lot of stocking, which is always very shocking . . .' and my director was saying, 'So we need one of the ladies to ACTUALLY display stocking' (to add versimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative), and I was just 'Yes, yes and YES! I'll do it!' 😂

[@classicslover]

@@cmm5542 Huh. That's strange. Not sure why Santa dropping coins or oranges or other gifts into hosiery hung by the fire would be shocking. And I'm sure yours was quite festive. Much like Ludwig, I was also engaged to four different women. (Not at the same time. I don't gamble with my life THAT much = )

[@classicslover]

Yes, women have a powerful arsenal. My response is always quite suave, smooth and debonair: Run Away.

[@JohnReiher]

Funny thing, The Great Race is based on a real life Great Race that took place in 1908: the 1908 New York to Paris Race, and pretty much follows the same route as taken in the movie.

[@danielstickney2400]

Yes, but the winning driver was named Schuster, may not have looked like Tony Curtis, and probably wasn't wearing white.

[@frederickthesquirrel]

​@@danielstickney2400 However, the car Leslie drove was a very good approximation of the car that historically won the race. Another fun fact: the race happened again in 2011, but it was more commemorative than competitive. Among other things, the entries included a 1929 Ford Model A, and a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle, both of which successfully completed the route. I really want to see another rerun of the race, and I want a Tesla in it. (Not a cybertruck; it would sink through the ice. One of the sedans)

[@AndorRadnai]

@@frederickthesquirrel That Tesla would run out of electricity on the ice before any trouble could occur. 😂

[@frederickthesquirrel]

@AndorRadnai That was kind of my point. I think any modern car that wants to be taken seriously should at least be able to match the feats of cars made more than a century ago. Too many new cars (not just Tesla) take our infrastructure for granted and quickly become useless in disaster situations when you need them most.

[@TheMaryWriter]

I always thought of Leslie and Maggie's relationship at the beginning as being a bit Pride and Prejudice-esque and not necessarily meant to be blatantly funny. The supposed humor of Maggie's character is the "I am an accomplished woman, just like men are," but when her skills fail her, she immediately falls into using sex appeal. I don't think that the joke is that Maggie is bad at things because she's a woman, it's that she is arrogant and claims she is when all she is really good at doing is conniving people into doing what she wants (whether or not that includes the use of sex appeal). Leslie (who is good at everything he sets his mind to--including wooing women) essentially has a Darcy-like fall where he initially denies Maggie once he picks up that she is trying to control him but ends up falling in love with her anyway, despite his intentions. Of course, the relationship isn't pulled off the same wit and humor as Pride and Prejudice, and the more serious tone of their scenes are the slower parts of the movie, which is a shame. I think that part of their obnoxiousness in those instances is supposed to be funny, but it just doesn't land. It isn't pointed enough, so to speak. But that pie fight is one of the best fights in cinematic history. The moment when Max enter's the doorway and says "Hey Professor!" and is pelted by pies never fails to make me laugh.

[@danielmaher964]

This was our "family movie" growing up and this comment seems right on to me

[@TheAureliac]

I'd forgotten about the scene where Max shows up. Thanks for the reminder: it always cracks me up too.

[@LatelyFashionable]

I've just realized that I don't think you've done a swordfight analysis of the Firefly episode "Shindig," and I would so love to hear your thoughts! Both about Inara teaching Mal to fight, and the actual duel itself.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

Ooh, good suggestion!

[@lilagtook]

I like this suggestion.

[@LordNelsonkm]

@@lilagtook Well, it's alright.

[@bengabbard8663]

Hahahaha!​@@LordNelsonkm

[@jackslattery3193]

Robin Hood: Men in Tights is an excellent film. Cary Elwes is always a win.

[@classicslover]

Jill actually already covered Robin Hood: Men in Tight. 4 Months ago. I know this because I waited a awhile for it. = ) In KZbin search Jill Bearup - Parry! Parry! Thrust! Thrust! GOOD!

[@Triss108]

I'm so glad you covered The Great Race! I would say that it is one of my favorites... Just not the kind you watch very often because, as you said, it is quite long. But it's hilarious, and part of the hilarity is the fact that you suddenly find yourself in another genre for a bit as the race progresses (and you can't forget the random sing a long part)

[@valeriemorton5517]

He escaped with a chicken? !

[@Travlr013]

One of the comments a friend of mine -- who's been doing rapier combat long before "cut & thrust"/HEMA became popular -- had to say about this fight was, "There wasn't anything DIFFICULT about the fight, just basic moves, but they did it at SPEED, which made all the difference." To which I will add, "the change-up of the sound effects helped to raise the bar from "We're testing each other" to "I'm going to kill you now." And not only are kudos from the movie to be found in Disney and Saturday morning cartoons, but yet another "Prisoner of Zenda" homage in "Get Smart", although Don Adams pulls out his Ronald Colman impression instead of Stewart Granger....

[@macmcleod1188]

Really hope you cover the 1974 Three Musketeers and Four Musketeers. Some of the best, original, realistic fencing ever put to screen. Oliver Reed took a blade through the wrist. Others were injured (none hospitalized). A very young Michael York is just amazing as D'Artangon.

[@RM-we7px]

Absolutely!

[@cmm5542]

Why am I not surprised to hear that about Oliver Reed? Whatever you think of the guy personally, he sure was a dedicated actor. I need to watch 'The Scarlet Blade' again. I am quite sure there were swordfights (from the title), but it has honestly been so long I don't recall them.

[@macmcleod1188]

@@cmm5542 yes and they were probably also taking risks that modern stage combatants won't take which is why modern sword fights often look fake. It's pretty clear when you're stabbing at the spot 2 ft from a person rather than stabbing at the person.

[@josephfisher426]

@@macmcleod1188 And Oliver Reed was probably sauced.

[@JHN12x12]

@@josephfisher426 yes. according to commentary on the DVD, swordfights with Reed shot after lunch did not any acting on the part of partners to realistically demonstrate fear ... 😬

[@roguedogx]

7:45 it could be that the directors were going for "she's just toying with him" but didn't nail it. because everything you described seemed like she's just trying to stay at a certain level of engagement of the fight. enough to make a point, but not so much that she wins.

[@swankiestnerd8277]

Push the button Max is a standard slogan used in our family for getting on with whatever decision. The first sword fight was not in a desert but on the beach, a satire on a Valentino movie.

[@JillBearup]

I wondered why they were randomly in the desert…but then again it doesn’t make that much more sense that they’re on the beach…

[@swankiestnerd8277]

@@JillBearup I think in Blake Edwards’ mind, Leslie is a lampooning of a brace of silent romantic leads, and one of those was Valentino. I personally love the sparkling teeth.

[@Mark.Rose.Stunts]

The "hopping advance" at 4:47(ish) is a sport fencing version of a ballestra. The "hop" is a combination jump and an appel (front-foot stomp in an attempt to elicit a response), and should help break up the tempo/rhythm into the connected to the lunge. There are other versions of the ballestra that are more commonly taught in stage combat that are less "hoppy". Great video! Love your channel!

[@teluian]

I love this movie so much (quote the "press the button max on an almost every day biases"), my dad was a saber instructor for 40 years and introduced me to this movie solely because of the fencing scene. Didnt expect any youtuber to ever talk about it.

[@thedragonwriter1073]

Hi Jill! I've just finished Just Stab Me Now and I wanted to say I absolutely adored it! I laughed so much during the first 50 pages, I thought I would have to underline the entire novel to get all the jokes! You managed to make me care about these characters even though the story is patchy because still under construction. I even cried at one moment for Rosamund's husband! Anyway, thank you for this treat! I don't live in England so I won't be able to come but I would have loved to!

[@jl721ATcairn]

The Great Race is Blake Edwards' love letter to the silent films of the early 20th century, where within the space of 2 hours you might see silly slapstick comedy and daring sword fights. I always thought the worst part about the baron fight was the high-waisted pants Tony Curtis wears to try and hide his gut! The point of the pie fight is twofold: a) to cover Natalie Wood from head to toe in cream (extrapolate as you will), and b) the moment when the always-clean Leslie finally gets it. Fun fact: we almost got Julie Andrews instead of Natalie Wood, she and Blake Edwards were dating at the time (they later married), he sent her the script and offered her the role of Maggie DuBois, she was keen to do it but wasn't going to be finished "The Sound of Music" in time.

[@josephfisher426]

I'm sure she would have been great, but I think I like this the best of Nathalie Wood's roles. She may not have enjoyed it, but it suited her strengths.

[@christophercurtis4131]

I first saw The Great Race as a little boy in the 1970's. I mainly watch this movie because Natalie Wood is my favorite actress. I like the comedy films she was in, but it is her more dramatic roles that I really love.

[@nahkohese555]

During his early years,Tony Curtis did many movies that involved swordplay in manyof his movies - The Prince who was a Thief (1951), The Son of Ali Baba (1952), The Black Shield of Falworth (1954), The Vikings (1958), Spartacus (1960), and Taras Bulba (1962). So, when The Great Race (1965) came along, he was no novice to stage combat. However, it was from many different styles. The thing of it was, the whole movie The Great Race was intended to be part tongue in cheek, part homage to the adventure movies of the 20s and 30s - The Hero all dressed in white whose teeth glinted when he smiled and The Villian all in black, always twirling his long, black mustache, accompanied by a bumbling henchman. As for the sword play between Leslie and Maggie, the whole point of it was to show that Maggie talked a good game, but really couldn't back up her claims. As for the sword fight between Leslie and the Baron, it was important to the plot, but I agree it was a bit longer than needed. It is one of my favorite movies, and (as usual) Jack Lemon stole the show as Professor Fate. It was also the second time Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis were teamed up. The first time was Some Like it Hot (1959) - a comedy classic, co-starring Marilyn Monroe (who was a great comedic actor, though they rarely gave her the opportunity). There's no swordfights, but you might enjoy it anyway.

[@erinrising2799]

the pie fight is the longest in cinema history, it lasts for 4 minutes and was shot over 5 days

[@bazilboyle8240]

5 days of mess to clean up.......

[@marieroberts5664]

Longer than the food fight in Blazing Saddles? Wow.

[@bubblemum]

The food, which was real, started to rot and smell by the second day...those poor actors and crew!

[@av_oid]

The Great Race and Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines are so confused in my head as I watched them both around the same time on Saturday afternoon TV as a kid.

[@screwtape2713]

And the sequel: Those Magnificent Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies. Also worth a watch.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

I just recently re-watched Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines for the first time in decades. Very fun little movie.

[@screwtape2713]

@@SynchronizorVideos "Well, if he can't land on one wheel, he shouldn't be in the race." Terry-Thomas played such a wonderful sleaze...

[@Ravenqueen22]

The Baron makes me think "...Snidely Whiplash, is that you???"

[@classicslover]

Exactly!

[@therobertfaulkner]

“Half-naked gazelle,” loved that line.

[@tmutant]

Why does Jill carrying swords in her hair make me happy? It does, though.

[@LeeCarlson]

I am proud to say that I have read "Just Stab Me Now," as has my teenager. We both love it and look forward to your future forays into the world of literature.

[@QALibrary]

Quote of the day... Bouching around like a hyperactive squirrel I think Jill just won the internet today!

[@countluke2334]

Reminded me of Yoda in the Dooku fight in AotC.

[@schonnj]

"Push the button, Max!" immediately makes me think "Pull the level, Kronk!"

[@greensteve9307]

I don't think that's a co-incidence. :)

[@vrewq]

Just watched the latest short from Elisabeth Wheatley and at the end, just above book goblins head, is a familiar pink spine

[@seregiel9541]

Wheatley has also actively promoted that book in her videos. :)

[@sadlerbw9]

@15:55 You know, that might make a funny Halloween constume: Thrown on a corset, and a blonde wig, and call yourself Jill-y Von Schtupp for the evening. Bonus points if you offer people sausages instead of candy!

[@darklordofsword]

The Great Race is one of my favorite movies. Look, I know we're here for the sword fights, but the REAL fight worth talking about here is the pie fight that is the climax of act 3.

[@alantheinquirer7658]

I've always loved this film. A wonderful family film to watch on a Sunday afternoon! Please note: Leslie is so cool, he doesn't spill a drop of his champaign when fighting Maggie. And the one thing of the fight with the Baron that I felt was a nice touch was the change in sound effect as the blades catch. P.S. As an ex-resident of the area around Canterbury, see if you can persuade Tim, boss of Heron Armoury, to come to pick up a copy.

[@blatantlyalana4735]

I like the introduction of the small swords in explaining

[@warkitty3426]

I did buy your book, and convinced my sister to, as well! I think I warned you about Blazing Saddles being a very specific form of comedy. It was making fun of westerns, which you mentioned that you weren't familiar with, but it's also making fun of racism. And in typical Mel Brooks fashion, he did so by making the characters extremely, wildly, cartoonishly, and especially *offensively* racist. Which I'm not sure how it plays in other countries without our very specific flavor and history of racism. So I'm glad you enjoyed the parts you did enjoy (and Madeline Kahn is absolutely wonderful; if you haven't seen Clue, you absolutely should).

[@josephfisher426]

Sometimes it's good to shoot a scene so many times that the cast starts doing improv...

[@phoebegilliland8897]

After eight months, I finally got to read Just Stab Me Now over the weekend. It was FANTASTIC!

[@TimFromWinfield]

For a better "great Race" (but without any sword fighting) I have to recommend "those daring young men, in their jaunty jalopies" which is about the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. You know who to root for, who to stand against, and who just to laugh at, and with, but nothing else goes according to the way you expect, and it's bloody brilliant comedy start to finish.

[@screwtape2713]

Agreed. The sequel to Thsoe Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines, which is also wonderful. (No swordfights, but there IS a duel involving blunderbusses fired at opponents in hot air balloons - strategically located over a sewage lagoon...)

[@JHMProject]

Thank you for analyzing the Great Race. One of my favorites growing up and one of the first movies I watched with sword fighting. Highlander ended up cementing the love for swords permanently. So thank you again for this.

[@patrickmullins7413]

I believe that little hop-advance around 4:45 is meant to be a ballestra. It is, situationally at least, a useful way to gather quick distance while possibly throwing off your opponent's rhythm, though it's inefficient as a general thing and in most situations is needlessly fancy.

[@mickfoil]

I love the Stewart Granger Zenda fight - it's by far the best out of the many versions of Zenda out there. I very much appreciate your analysis of the Maggie DuBois fight (if you want to call it that) because, yes; it's very much like Blake Edwards did not know what to do with (or couldn't find a way into) the character. We actually looked at the saber fight in one of my stage combat classes a year or so ago, and yes - very basic stuff, but very flashy and dynamic looking. I did NOT know that you couldn't fleche in saber - education!

[@hollyingraham3980]

See several above. Fleche was legal in sabre back then. But in a fight for blood, there are no rules.

[@mickfoil]

@@hollyingraham3980I agree. I looked it up and it seems to be illegal in modern sport now. Apparently it was banned some time ago? Regardless, yes. The only rule in a blood fight is to survive

[@ryandowney9383]

This makes me wonder why I have never seen The Great Race. The slapstick stuff you show is hilarious. I'll have to check it out. I'm also baffled by how they did the dive into the boat shot. You'd think even with a stuntman and a breakaway boat he would have been SEVERELY injured or even killed! I wonder if the Corridor Crew have looked at that effect.

[@mandisaw]

Blake Edwards had a good stunt team. He also did Victor/Victoria and the Pink Panther - lots of physical comedy.

[@voiceofraisin3778]

Spitballing here. The back half of the boat is solid but has a blunt front, basically, cut a real boat in half and fit a flat bow low enough that its not quite obvious. The front half is something collapsible, probably balsa. The stunt coordinator can sit in the solid rear half and guide the boat, the stuntman aims for the front half, and has backup from the coorinator to pull him out if anything goes wrong.

[@epicureanbard]

Them: "What's the subject of the next video because you seem all over the place at the minute?" My immediate response: "Great question. Next Question."

[@albion65]

Jokes aside the fight between Leslie and the Baron is very good at showing the difference between Foil and Saber fencing. It's one of the few films to actually show that, where as most films simply combine the two types.

[@Blue_124th]

As someone who fenced for a good while the hopping is actually something we were taught pretty early on has a high risk high reward thing…basically normally the hopping is to ‘surprise’ the opponent…..does it work? No cause normally your opponent knows what these hops are…normally you’re better off just lunging

[@Blue_124th]

@@Ahrpigi you don’t have to stop lunge…..you can if you want to get out of a step forward with a lunge….you can also More or less ‘sprint’ into a lunge. There are many variations in fencing 😅

[@Blue_124th]

@@Ahrpigi yes…sorry……could also be I’m not a native English speaker 😅

[@MemphiStig]

General tip to anyone interested: If you get the chance, watch the American Masters documentary on Blake Edwards that just came out this year. It's pretty fascinating, and even tho I grew up with his movies, I had no idea about all he had done, and certainly not all the bts stories they tell. Not stage-fighting oriented, I know, but really just entertaining from a movie-lover's standpoint. And I want to see more of his work now that I have some fresh insight.

[@joehopfield]

I stumbled on some olympic fencing this year - there was a guy who did a crazy series of meter high leaps during his (saber?) attacks - way funnier than Maggie/Wood's little jumps.

[@khathaway414]

Another great choice Jill. I love this movie. But you picked the wrong fight to cover, it should have been the pie fight.

[@LarkLaTroy]

I got a fun one for you, and only because I don't see it in any of your lists or videos. 1976 Swashbuckler. Robert Shaw, James Earl Jones, Geneviève Bujold, Peter Boyle and lots of other great actors. Flirty fight, silly fights, and a Prisoner of Zenda ending fight with just a bit of a twist at the end. Oh, it also stars Angelica Huston. Opening scene credits, not one word of dialog. She is fantastic. If you can, check it out and have some mind blowing fun.

[@screwtape2713]

Agreed. One of the better "pirate" movies out there.

[@nosirragessej]

When you had up a clip of Madeline Kahn when talking about not having overlapping senses of humor with Mel Brooks I wanted to point out that particular joke. Madeline Kahn's character/accent in Blazing Saddles is a direct and hilarious reference to the performance of German actress Marlene Dietrich in a 1939 western she did with Jimmy Stewart called Destry Rides Again. It's hard to find the actual film clip, but you can at least find the audio of her singing "Little Joe the Wrangler" on KZbin easily for comparison to Kahn's performance.

[@cmm5542]

Thank you for reminding me I have not watched Destry Rides Again in FAR too long!

[@KayLoo202]

Oh geez!!! I saw this in my AP American History class because my teacher was three months from retirement and wanted to watch it. Good memories!!

[@trevorstewart1308]

May Aunt Maddie rest in peace. In loving memory of Madeline Kahn 💚

[@khyron42prime40]

I genuinely think the first fight exists as the *opposite* of a flirty fight; it’s designed to establish their conflict, since they spend much of the film at odds with each other. Rather than a flirty fight with obvious chemistry right out the gate, it gives their relationship somewhere to *go* for the subsequent 3 hours. Dying to see you do the original Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Prisoner of Zenda in full some day!

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

I think I am mature enough now (71) to appreciate your critique and play by play. I do remember seeing this at the cinema when it was released. It was pleasant entertainment but desperately needed horses (I was a total horse nerd). By the way: love the book (Just Stab Me Now) and think I've persuaded another friend to get it too (she's on a different continent so can't just borrow mine, and must also get her own cheese. So when is another book coming?

[@HermanVonPetri]

It's OK Jill, if I had to pick any fault with "Blazing Saddles," or any other film for that matter, it's that there's just not enough Madeline Kahn. But that's understandable considering just how tired she was.

[@kristine9823]

Yeah, you only watch Blazing Saddles for Gene Wilder and that one song. Which I'm glad you appreciated. At least there's a little more in Young Frankenstein, but the good parts are mostly Gene Wilder there too. He's a national treasure.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

Wilder and Little are definitely the best part of the film. But there are a ton of other little moments in that film that always get a laugh out of me too. Mongo punching the horse, "Matthew Mark Luke and duck!", "think of your secretary", the infamous fart scene, "it's twue!", and of course the most epic fourth wall break in cinema history during the climax.

[@JHN12x12]

@@SynchronizorVideos "Mongo only pawn in game of life" Hedly Lamarr's inspirational speech to his mob of bad guys. all of Slim Pickens' work as Taggart. Mel Brooks routinely cycles from the predictably obvious vaudeville and fart jokes to the most sublime moments. you could say that's his schtick ... 😎

[@gordonmcmillan4709]

The vehicles were based on contemporary AC Cobra chassis, with a Studebaker Weasel making an appearance in the snow stuff.

[@MAlanThomasII]

My read of the first fight is that its purpose is to demonstrate that Leslie is an ass and Maggie is extremely capable, just not at the level of someone who does nothing but such physical feats for a living (while she excels in other fields as well). That being said, it's not great. If I had to be an apologist for it, I would say that she is struggling against a system that will not train her properly for anything she wants to do, which contributes to her not being as good as he is, and her willingness to challenge anyone in order to prove herself worthy anyway is something of the point, but it's also true that she is not well-trained enough or aggressive enough to follow through with that in the scene. (Possibly also a side-effect of not using stunt performers for this?)

[@CruelDwarf]

Most interesting part in the first fight IMO is that peculiar skirt suspension system that Maggy uses. First time I saw anything like this.

[@abigailthompson4456]

She is wearing matching bloomers under her skirt...modern woman. When dresses have trains, for activity like dancing, they either have to have a loop up to their hand ,or they have a way to loop it up to attach to their waistband.

[@markuhler2664]

Sounds like they had some good ideas for half a movie and so decided to throw three of them or so together.

[@Ayelmar]

I haven't seen The Great Race in AGES, but I positively adored it when I was quite young, making sure to catch it each time it aired on broadcast telebision back in the...'70s (?!? Good grief, I'm getting old.....)

[@scottbrown411]

My impression of the 'flirty' fight, as someone who's had a little fencing training, was her trying to intimidate him, rather than actually hurt him...and he realized he wasn't in any danger after the ineffective lunge, and his knocking her sword away after her lunge was complete was demonstrating that. The 'hop' she did reminded me of folks who'd 'stomp' to try and distract their opponent, as well.

[@AudreyHepburnCHick]

Seven seconds in and I'm just here to say I'm so excited you're talking about this movie!!! I've loved it since I was a kid.

[@SafetySpooon]

a) The "point" of the Maggie/Leslie swordfight is just supposed to be "She's good but he's much better." SO it may not work well enough for people who KNOW what fencing is. b0 The original "Prisoner of Zenda" is at least the Stone/Terry silent film, from the 20's.

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

I adore that film and always aspired to Professor Fate's level of ingenuity and rivalry lol

[@raikaschieck1634]

if you have the opportunity to have two peeps fence while holding champang glasses you should take it

[@WilliamScavengerFish]

Madeline's performance was great. The part where she reaches back to grab the molding but misses and has to look back to grab it.

[@TheArklyte]

Huh, I always thought that it was a 1980's movie parodying those late black and white swashbuckling adventures.

[@csnazell]

The Stewart Granger Prisoner of Zenda (1952) is fun but my heart belongs the 1937 version with Ronald Colman, Madeline Carrol & Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Although the sword fight at the end is mostly stunt doubles.

[@AMcGrath82]

I'd forgotten this film. How could I? The stage fighting was entertaining. Though I was pretty young lol.

[@TukikoTroy]

Wacky Races was based on The Great Race.

[@keithklassen5320]

I feel like Rat Race also took some inspo from it.

[@phillippatryndal4255]

Catch the pigeon!

[@alexfranz817]

The comedy still holds up the misogyny is..., period accurate.

[@keithklassen5320]

The misogyny is at least partly a parody of misogyny, but the parody exists alongside *actual* misogyny and the parody certainly isn't meant to liberate in any way.

[@mandisaw]

I dunno about that. Edwards co-wrote as well as directed, and it's fair to say he was very pro-feminist, even in '65. Maggie is a parody of naïve youth more than anything - she has skills & knowledge, but little practical experience of the world or people. Her fight with Leslie reflects a combo of arrogance & innocence - she assumes that she's able to hold her own in wits and with blades, without really understanding her opponent or how she compares. If he wasn't the good-guy we the audience know him to be, it could've been quite a dangerous situation. She doesn't really grasp danger until much later in the movie.

[@burgundian777]

Love the Ruritania parody with Carpania.

[@bleaquehaus]

I get that its not the focus of this channel, but Professor Fate's 2 person bicycle/zeppellin and its theme music is flat out awesome.

[@_Michiel_]

I love your all-over-the-place-ness. Therefore I absolutely don't mind that. Please carry on being you. 😊

[@petrastedman669]

My mom once helped Tony Curtis with his bowtie on his way to an event. I got a cheek pinch.

[@MagpieRat]

For some reason, this was my family's "Christmas film". I never saw Die Hard, Elf, Home Alone, The Sound of Music, Gremlins - none of the films that normal kids watched. Just this. Every year. Not a clue why.

[@ESPNight004]

I am currently binge watching Classic Doctor Who, and I am surprised by how many sword fights are in there! Doctor #1 has a few moments, Doctor #3 and #4 as well, where he beats the best swardsman on the planet (can't think of #2 having one, but am not sure). So far, my favorite has been Doctor #5's sword fight with The Master. I have been craving Jill's analyses on these fights! I would absolutely adore her take on them, and any (or all) sword fight scenes in Doctor Who - like, do the different Doctors have unique styles from one another? Are the scenes actually any good to people who know what to look for? I'm dying to know!

[@johnforsyth7987]

This movie was a satirical romantic comedy. Sort of a sequel to the movie Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines. Both movies had a very similar storyline. The only duel I remember in the first movie was blunderbusses in ballons. It was considered family friendly back in the day. I am afraid they have not aged very well.

[@chashague8479]

So pleased that you covered The Great Race! A bit sad that you didn't like it better. Your analysis of the fights and the film was excellent.

[@TheEmeraldElf]

Didn’t know this film existed until 35 seconds ago. I have to see this before I get a break down, cause it just looks too fun. Thanks for reminding the world that it exists!

[@melenatorr]

Ah. I'm sad: this is a family favorite movie, every silly, ridiculous, inconsequential second of it. Lovely to see Curtis and Lemmon together again, and with Lemmon showing off his chops by being comically evil and also comically sweet. How can you say "no" to the partnership of Fate and Max? How can you not share Maggie's major little triumph as she commandeers pigeons over car and mules? How can you not love Hezekiah? How can you not envy the blimp bicycle? Oh, how I want that machine! Have you not strode down the street with "He then took on the sheriff, and the sheriff's deputy/But he shouldna hadna oughtna swang on me" threading through your brain? If you have not, how sad I feel, at least for the moment.

[@owenbrau63]

Ok, weirdly, I literally just started rereading Just Stab Me Now when this popped up in my feed!

[@StKildaFan]

the boat stunt has me crying. How have I never seen that before?

[@jts8053]

If parts of Blazing Saddles didn't land for you, but you still found things like Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn funny, check out Young Frankenstein. I'd argue it's the funniest movie ever made, but there are no sword fights.

[@teehasheestower]

I really enjoyed this movie when I was young. It came far before my time. I grew up, and it stayed in the 60's with thier politics.

[@petrastedman669]

I quote this movie all the time! So glad you're doing more of these, and that you did this movie, and now I'm off to have some lovely sharp cheddar.

[@CatOnACell]

in competitive fencing a fleche is closer to committing so much to a lunge that you have no intention of actually catching yourself. the runoff steps are completely unintentional consequences of not wanting to fall on your face.

[@johntabler349]

What is possible with swords and storytelling is great, love to hear your take on Maureen O'Hara in At Swords Point and other similar rolls sometimes